The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-30

4
during the remainder of his mission he was care
fnl not to dabble in the affairs of stranger ma |
tons nor to foment. as foreign minister, troub-
les between other governments anu that TO
which he was accredited.
After the English question was disposed of
Fish determined to leave the Cabinet. Grants
first term had come TO close; the President was
re elected, and the Secretary felt that he could
with honor withdraw from the cares of state,
having achieved great diplomatic success and
relieved his chief from the anxieties that pressed
so heavily when Fish accepted office. Grant
was unwilling to part with his Secretary OF
State, but Fish persisted in his intention. and
day when they alone together he |
handed the. President his resignation |
in closed letter. This just |
before Cabinet meeting, and General Grant |
took the letter but said nothing When the other
members of the Cabinet entered, he asked each |
in his turn for his budget but omitted Fish, who,
according to etiquette, should have been first adj
dressed. Then the President said: Il have let
ter from the Secretary Of State. l suppose
know its contents, and am very sorry to receive
it, There was matter in hand, he added |
| upon which he desired to consult the other mem
| bers of the Cabinet.
| Fish accepted this as his own dismissal, and
took his leave, not expecting ever again to enter
| the Cabinet chamber. But the next day ne re-
| ceived a letter signed by every member OF the
| Senate except three, urging him to remain in his
position. This was the business which the Presi-
| dent desired discuss with his officers; and the
dismissal, as Fish thought it at the time, was
| waggish design on the part of Grant to surprise
his friend. He was always fond of surprising
those whom he liked, by his favors or his acts
Of friendship, and the vein OF humor that ran
through his character was very perceptlbe In
incidents like this Fish remained in the Cabinet.
In the year 1869 Mr.. Paul Forbes, man
prominent in the business and social circles of
his time, made known to the government his
intimacy with General Prim, then Recent OF
Spain. He also communicated certain intiIna
tions that the Spanish potentate might not be
averse to negotiate for the disposal of Cuba to
the United States, il the terms could be made
advantageous and the Castiian pride should not
be inopportunely aroused. There were some
pourparlers on the subject, and it was finally
determined to send Forbes to Madrid in such
way not to commit the government, but to
sound the Regent further as to his views. Gen.
Sickles the minister Ito Spain, twas informed of
the plan and was directed to assist in its execu-
ton. but to be careful that the relations of the
two countries should not be compromised The
Spanish temper was known to be hot and sus-
picious well arrogant, and Prim must
manage his part of the affair with consummate
delicacy.
Forbes started for Europe but, through some
body's indiscretion his errand was revealed, and
before he reached Madrid the story OF the pro-
posed sale of Cuba was abroad: This at first al
most baked the enterprise Prim was fright
ened for his hold on power; he had not yet pre-
pared the minds of his countrymen for the
abandonment of its faithful isle. Still, Sickles
took up the negotiations, and with great skill
mended the broken threads; there seemed fair
prospect of success. The offer was absolutely
made by the United States, and under considera-
ton by Spain-that the Cubans should be al
lowed to purchase Cuba. the United States to
guarantee the purchase bonds-when Prim was
assassinated. l was repeatedly assured in Cuba
that he was shot because he contemplated the
sale. Be that as it may.. with his death the
scheme fell through, and has not since been re-
vived. Cuba remains to-day the most miserably
oppressed bit of soil earth, under what is
called civilized government.
No further matter of equal Importance in our
foreign relations arose during Grants admins
traton. Amid the disasters and calumnies that
clouded the last years of bis second term, Fish
remained stanch to his chief He was opposed
. TO bis standing for third term Immediately
after a second. perhaps as much because he
thought that Grant would be defeated if he ap
, pealed to the country then. on account of any
Interpretation or the principle. He certainly
; in 1880, supported the denomination of Grant;
but at the close of Grants second admnstra
ton Fish recommended his retirement During
{ all the anxieties and doubts 10 regard to the
election of successor Fish was in the full con-
fdence of MS chief he was by Grants side when
he left the White House. From the executive
!. mansion the ex-President and Mrs. Grant were
= driven to Fsh's house, and remained for several
weeks his guests, as eight years before both he
and Mrs. Fish had been of General Grant, little
q dreaming then of the relations they were
8 destined to assume
While General Grant was engaged upon his
- memoirs he wrote some passages Of a
political character which seemed to me
o Of so much consequence that | urged
a | him to discuss them with his most
: important political friends, and he determined tc
9 submit them to Fish, but for reason this
h intention was not carried out Weeks after
# ward, was present when Grant thought he was
!, dying, and his family were gathered around him
u to receive his last words He stammered: 81
II suppose have not more than half an hour t.
D. live, and wish to say that want the politica
= passages in my book submitted to Governor
= Fish to see if there is too much acrimony. Ht
/, may correct them or strike them out altogether
i; as be chooses" General Grant, however revived
u after this and lived several months longer. dur
ing which he was able to resume his work; bu
D in what he believed were his dying moments h
d gave this great proof of confidence and respec
,e to his friend and counselor, and Secretary O
State. ADAM BADEAU.